The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-01
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
Organization of the Young Mems
Anti Club Last Night.
SKIRMISHING ALL ALONG THE LINE

OF the meeting being the organization of q
young mems anti-prohibition club
y motion was adopted to elect six vice-pres-
idents, one from each city ward, and The fol-
loving ge&ilomen We're declared the choice of
tie meeting:
Firs, Vice Prss;den.-Josiah Carter.
second Nice-P resident-Wllli0m z. HIN.
Third Vice resident-Thomas i, Bishop.
Fourth Nice-lrcSideni-Iame> o Neil.
f.th NiceFrcsident-W. l ACasao3n
5 Xth Vice Plesident-lsaac iurscb.
1t was finally decided to issue an address to
the public and committee was appointed to
prepare an address for this purpose. 1t speaks
for itself
The following is the address:
To the Citizens OF Atlanta: In adliti, to the
many arguments illustrative If The pCstoI Of the
antiprohibitionists Of Fulton county am he ty of
Atlanta as the party Of devotion TO the principles Of
free government 10 conservatism, trle temperance
and liberation, the following is presented:
In May, 1885, prior 20 the local option election in
this county, members OF the general council Of the
Guy VINO nave ever since supported prohibition
voted TO increase tie license charge for the retail of
Iaiuors from O) to SOD per annum and the in
crease WaSadopted, eXMayor liliyer, by his vote on
ne sus tilhlns the increase the $50 rate was in
force when the local option election was held and
IN Ter that rate tie NUM- Of places at which
liquor was sold vas greatly reduced Hence, the
prohtbitionists first increased the license rate and
next destroyed the legal trahie in liquors. EXCEPT as
domestic Wines and subsequently, favored and pro-
cured the passage OF an act placing license charge
OF $4,000 on the business of selling domestic wines
In view. of tbs record made by the
prohibitonists n their recent o. p sitiou to
high license, regulation and restrictive legis-
lauon for the sale of liquors in this city in the
event OF the defeat of prohibition, was in so lar rs
they base it on soctude for the poor man or the
small dealer an interesting spectacle since they
themselves had first increased the burdens of the
aitos ether II with this record the prohibition
patty would assume the position of friendship 10
tn small dealer they can have but little respect for
the intelligence OF those to whom such argument is
addressed
On the subject of license, regulation and restrc-
n Il Jlqr q II
diyiduas, that if hereafter the sale of liquors shall
become lawful in the city of Atlanta we will favor
the compete regulation of the traffic therein and
the confinement OF same to the business portions of
business streets only and Will oppose the granting
o. any incense 70 sell the same III residence com
or fire engine house. or to any person
other than Of good character and sobrety. Further,
we shall oppose the use of screens, blinds other
obstrutrion of the view of places in which liquor
may be sold and Will further oppose the OF any
gaming table, device or apparatus or the playing
is sold. In furtherance and in aid of the regulation
OF the trade in liquors we will favor license rate
which, while not so high as t. create a monopoly,
will yet be altogether sufficient to secure adequate
revenue from this source to the city government
ana make practicable efficient regulation: and will
favor the ELECTION Of such persons to the general
faith.
Thee pledges it will be our pleasure to carry out
both because as citizens interested in the city and
the good government, therefore we believe it right;
and also for the reason that should indiScTiminate
license prevail or il efficient regulation result, the
cause Of antfprohibttion would he weakened and be
justly held to account for the me in future contests
under the local option law. We are therefore,
as Geepy concerned in the proper and full regula-
ton OF the traffic as any other persons could posi-
bly be. Half the effort expended to enforce the
prohibition law by concentrating police power upon
II, would insure the full and practicable enforce
ment OF all laws state and city, relating to dealing
IN LIQUORS and that, too, without the friction,
esp mage and searches by detailed patromen and
iniomDeFs, attendant upon the enforcement of pro-
The regulation above indicated, will afford bet
ter results both as TO morals and health, than the
use of alcohol obtained in the city or the character
of liquors generally shipped into the city from other
places. That large quantities Of liquors are con-
santly being shipped sinto the county and CITY for
consumption here, is known TO all obserYant men and
instead of bearing liberal share of the support of
our local government as the trade to supply oroWn
people should the money which pays Tor it goes out
from 10 various other cities and towns The fact
exists that there is no limitation by law the
purchasing capacity or right OF our citizens, ex-
eept 70 our own city, and that the railroads and
express companies can and do Transport liquors into
midst without lei or hindrance.
A restoration of the legality OF eradehere would
place the proper temperate and medicinal use of
liquors alike legally accessible 10 al the people,
whereas now. under IEe present ORDER Of things one
class has special facilities for obtaining it by order
ing the same i'll quantity those not so able to
order in quantity While we arc aware that here
as in Texas and Tennessee some prUhibitionists
que that it is necessary 10 keep liquors from the
masses, especially from the colOre people, we in
sst that such argument is contrary to the fanda-
men al principles OF popular government and in
effect declares that the people OF this country
lncafaDle OF sAItgOVelnmeHt ana unworthy to be
entrusted with legal access to an article harmless
when used properly and tenn eately and use of
which as medicinal agent is frequently indispens-
able to cure ana treatment OF the sick. We hold
that the people generally are capable of
proper use OF liquors as are those who order
i'll quantity or who are able to carry
at whose rooms it is kept on supply. While we
hav, heard the argument advanced from prohibit
ton sources that there las been great Improvement
in the order OF the city under prohibition il is 10 be
borne in mind that Atlanta for ff.eea years prior
70 hi -pfTy. id,
dered city Of its size in tie Unitei States. During
the entire period since 1870 elections had been no
taely 1ui9t ana orderly ana good order generally
prevailed, and 1t may be safely asserted that
the order and sobliety throughout the Cotton
exposition in 1881, would compUe iayorably with
that attendant upon the exposition Just closed and
persons who attribute the general orderand sObriey
PREVALENT here 10 prohibition, either ignorant Of
the previous history OF the city, or else msrepre
sent its former history and Character In ISs0 as
shown by the United States census, Atlanta ranked
third city in the United states in proportion to
her population for the number of her people ell
gaEei in active pursuits or occupations. This splen
did ord sobTiety, thrift and industry attained
in the q sence OF prohibition, has not, cont
dent improved since prohibition, The large in
crease ofaeEpenso for police does not 50 indicate
Until the prohibition agitation, nothing had oc-
curreC T. divide Oh ALLEVIATE our people from each
other and on the prouiD1tonistS rests the response
bity Tor all divisions and disscnsionS brought in lis
train, and while in other respects the prohibitions
lists have set up for Themselves CERTAIN
claims of superiority as citizens, yet to prosecute
great public cntcrrises TO success the aid of anti
prohib.tionists has been found desirable, and was
not found wanting in public spirit or cordiaty of
co operation.
With respect TO the effect of prohibition upon the
revenue of The city, and upon business and growth,
we 81 bmit rs 10 the fOTner-hrst, That for many
years preceding tie going into effect prohibition,
with but rare exception in the year Of panicj
property values had increased and that, too, with
out any marked nc ease of the assessment on cen
tTal improved property Further, that such increase
ofGssessment was made since prohibition, and on
property which, In many instances was yielding u
reduced rental To tnese facts the owners Of the
property in question are the best witnesses
Second, That while stress has been laid by PROFIT
bitionists on the work OF the city government in
1886 il is 10 he borne in mind that there was a de-
crease Of over two hundred thousand dollars In the
returned value Of personal property, as compared
with 1875 and this, notwitlst n1ing Prohibition
did not 20 into cee.t generally as TO dealers til
July lst OF that year, and that the al Yal0reIn tax
the property in the liquor business accrued for
1856 on Afril lst and that the license tax many
retail dealers, N0ld in for the first and second
quarters Of 1886 ct the S50J-per-aunum rate.
While from general Causes an increased prosper
ity and Uslues activity las appeared IN the cities
Of the country generally, Atlanta. though making
some progress, has not shared this general prJsrer-
ity 70 The extent Of many Of her sister cities though
favored by situation, climate and centTaty trade
and manufactures.
That there mGy have been net increase In popu-
lai on IN the last sixteen months we do not, cit-
Zens H. terested in our homes call in question, but
throughout IL history of the city since tho build
Ing in 1870. large annual net iucre5se mad been